Anti-jamming manual parking meter



Dec. 8, 1964 A. s. WHEELBARGER ETAL 3,160,256

ANTI-JAMMING MANUAL PARKING METER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan.13, 1959 f INVENTORS gaaf/@fanny Dec. 8, 1964 A. s. WHEELBARGER ETAL3,160,255

ANTI-JAMMING MANUAL PARKING METER Original Filed Jan. 15, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 2 www W ATTORNEY` Dec. 8, 1964 A. s. WHEELBARGER ETAL3,160,256

ANTI-JAMMING MANUAL PARKING METER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan.13, 1959 ATTORNEY5 A. s. WHEELBARGER ETAL 3,160,256 ANTI-JAMMING .MANALPARKING METER Dec. 8, 1964 .6 Sheets-SheerI 4 Original Filed Jan. 13,1959 HH kl.

INVENTORS /Qaef/ f/raaw/e v faff! APW( y y l'r'roRNEYs Dec. 8, 1964 A.s. wHEr-:LBARGER 'ET'AL 3,160,256

ANTI-JAMMING MANUAL PARKING METER Original Filed Jan. l5, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 8, 1964 A. s. WHEELBARGER ETAL 3,160,256

ANTI-JAMMING MANUAL PARKING METER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Jan.13, 1959 INVENTORS limer ill/#afinar @aan l 4906A/ fwww@ ATroRNEYsUnited States Patent iiiiee lbdd , Patented Dec. 8, 1.964

albert S. Wheelbarger, Statesboro, Ga., and George W.

Ruck, Bethel Fark, Pa., assignors to Rockwell ley/lannfactnring Company,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuatien ofapplication Ser. No. 7S6,488, dan. i3, 1959. This application .lune I4,1951, Ser. No. ith/,irn

1S Claims. (Cl. lt- 72) The present invention relates to parking metersand more particularly to improvements in the coin handling and settingmechanism adapted to simplify the mechanism for handling multiple coins,assure accurate setting of the timing mechanism and avoid jamming of themeter either because of the freezing of the coin in the mechanism oroscillation of the manual coin feeding crank in an attempt to procuretime in addition to that actually Warranted by the value of thedeposited coin.

The present invention is an improvement upon that mechanism disclosed inUnited States Letters Patent No. 2,755,904 issued July 4, 1956 in thename of C. M. Moore et al. and assigned to the assignee of thisapplication and pending application Serial No. 479,994 entitled ParkingMeters, tiled Ianuary 5, 1955, now U.S. Patent No. 2,906,386 in the nameof Charles M. Starkey and owned by the assignee of this application andis tiled as a continuation of copending application Serial No. 786,488entitled Anti-Jamming Manual Parking Meter tiled Ianuary 13, 1959 toreplace the latter application.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide al coin chuteextending between the coin insertion slot and a point adjacent the coinreceiving box which will have minimal Contact with the faces of thevarious coins thereby avoiding jamming of the coin in the mechanism as aresult of icing conditions in cold weather or improper manipulation ofthe manual winding crank and to simplify the chute mechanism and thecoin driving mechanism provided to propel the coin along the chute toeffect a setting of the timing mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coin chutefor a parking meter having a minimal contact with the faces of thevarious sized coins to eliminate jamming of the coins due to icing incold weather and a positive ejection mechanism operated by a newlydeposited coin in its travel along the chute under inlluence of therotation of the manual winding mechanism to positively eject animmediately preceding displayed coin from the meter bulls-eye windowinto the coin receiving box.

Still another object of the present invention resides in providing aparking meter coin actuated drive mechanism with anti-backup levermechanism for preventing oscillatory operation of the setting crank andcoin drive means during movement of the coin through the coin chute inan attempt to secure additional unpaid-for time.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a manuallyset parking meter with a novel violation ag linkage adapted to maintainthe violation ag in its inoperative hidden position only when the coinactuated drive mechanism is in its normal coin receiving inoperativeposition and the meter time drive mechanism is operatively driving themeter.

Still further objects will appear from the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIGURE l is a View taken along the line of juncture between the meterhead casting and the mechanism supporting door casting looking into thedoor casting with the movement and cam assembly removed for the sake ofclarity;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 depicting the doorcasting with the chute cover plate and coin drive means removed;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through FIGURE 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows 'Bi-3;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through FIGURE l looking inthe direction of the arrows 4 4;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the coin drive means of FIGURE 1removed from the door casting and meter mechanism winding shaft ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational View of the coin drive mechanism ofFIGURE 5 viewed from the right of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the movement and cam assembly viewedfrom the tace normally disposed in opposed relation to the face of thecoin drive mechanism depicted in FIGURES 1 and 5;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the movement and cam assembly ofFIGURE 7 Viewed from the right of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the back plate, flag and linkageassembly and indicator assembly of FIG- URES 7 and 8 with the rack andcam removed for clarity of illustration; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view ofthe meter winding shaft employedin the meter structure of of FIG- URES 1-6.

With continued reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the samereference characters are used throughout to indicate the same parts, themeter 2li of the present invention comprises a conventional two-partmeter housing made up of a base member 21 housing a coin box (not shown)and adapted to be mounted in the conventional manner on a support postor the like (not shown) and a door casting 23 hingedly mounted upon base21 by means of a hinge pin 24 which also mounts the coin box closuredoor 22 and is xed against axial movement with respect to base 21 anddoor casting 23 in any suitable manner such as a retainer screw 18entered into an annular recess 19 formed midway between the pin ends. Aswill be clear from an inspection of the FIGURES 1 through 6 of thedrawings, the meter mechanism is suitably mounted on the inner wall faceF of door casting 23 which, as is most clearly indicated in FIGURES 1 to3, is provided with suitably tapped bosses 25 through 30 adapted tomount the coin chute and coin drive means 31 and mounting bosses 32through 35, for mounting the meter clock and indicator ag unit 36(FIGURES 7 and 8) including the clock mechanism, the indicating pointerand its setting mechanism 37 and expired time flag and its operatinglinkage 38.

Referring for the moment to FIGURES 1 through 4 wherein the door casting23 is illustrated as it appears looking into the generally dish shapedcasting with meter clock and indicator flag unit 36 removed, it will beclear that casting 23 at its upper end is provided with a window openingil formed midway of its lower edge with a coin insertion opening 42protected by an outwardly protruding integral hood-like shield 43.Window opening 41 is preferably closed by a peripherally sealed windowglass 44 held in place by screws 45 extending through suitably formedopenings in the window glass and a backing plate 46. Also mounted insuperimposed relation against the inner face of window glass 44 byscrews 45 is a time indicating dial card 4'7 inscribed to indicate a twohour period in minute markings. To this end, casting 23 'in alignmentwith screws 45 is provided with integral tapped bosses (not shown)laterally olset and disposed around the peripheral edges of windowopening 4i. The inner or back wall of coin insertion slot 42 is formedby an upstanding boss 49 formed on the arcuate cover plate of the coinchute assembly S2 which will now be described.

Coin chute assembly S2 comprises arcuate backing or slide plate 5lextending frocm the yarea of mounting bosses 28 and Z9 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 to a pointapproximately opposite and inwardly of mounting boss 25. Backing plate51 is suitably notched between bosses 2'7 and 28 to encircle the lowerportion of coin insertion opening 42 of casting 23. Flate 51 is alsoprovided at a point counterclockwise of boss 27 with a peripherallyopening notch 54 adapted to receive the upstanding right angularly bentendSS of a coin release lever 56 journalled at 57 for limited movementbetween the body wall face F of` casting 23 and the back face ofV plate51 as best seen in FIGURE 3. End S5 of coin release lever 56 is formedat the tip of an inwardly curved portion of a lever arm 5S inwardlyjoined at its hub 59 to a longer lever arm 6l terminating adjacent thelowermost end of plate 5l in an ejector linger 62 formed integrally withand return bent around'and over the lowermost end of plate Sitoterminate in a downwardly inturned tip 63 disposed to swing in closelyspaced relation to the radial wall portion of plate 51 for a purpose tobe presently pointed out. Coin release lever 56 adjacent ejector finger62 is also provided with inwardly extending cam finger 64 arranged topositively engage with a coin release lever return pin 65 of coin drivemeans 31 to be presently described in detail. As clearly seen from aninspection of FIGURES l and 2, an inner peripheral marginal edge ofbacking plate 51 slopes upwardly and terminates in a narrow at rib-likeportion'67 extending from a point to the right of coin insertion slot i2as seen in FIGURE l to a point stopping short of the opposite end ofplate 5l. Beyond rib-like portion 67 and in the end of plate Si adjacentboss 25 of casting 23, the plate is formed with a circular opening andan inwardly directed linger 69 terminating in an upstanding stop lug 7lthe purpose of which will presently appear. A transparent disc 68 isdisposed in and closes a bulls-eye inspection opening 7@ formed in thewall of casting 23 and has a portion extending into and closing thecircular opening ot plate 5l. These aligned transparent covered openingsdisplay each successive coin passing through the chute assembly 52 toview externally of the meter until insertion of the next coin andoperation of the setting mechanism by the next user.

Between mounting bosses 26 and 28 backing plate Sl is of su'tlcientwidth to overhang bosses 26, 27, 23 and 2i? and is provided with throughapertures to receive securing screws 72 (FIGURE l) for fixing coin chuteassembly 52 to casting 23. The peripheral margin of plate 5lextendingthroughout the arcuate length thereof from mounting bosses 23and 29 to a point adjacent ejector linger tip 63 supports a generallyarcuate filler plate 73 (FIGURE 2) forming a small diameter coin camplate and suitably drilled at points in alignment with bosses 26, 27, 28and 29 to freely pass securing screws 72 therethrough. Plate 73 ismatingly notched adjacent coin insertion slot 42 vandi notch 54 of plate5l to respectively clear the coin insertion opening in the wall ofcasting 23 and the upstanding end 55 of coin release lever 56.lmmediately adjacent to and inclockwise relation to the notch provided'to mate with backing plate notch 54, cam plate 73 is provided with aninwardly opening notch 75 extending throughout a pre-V determinedangular vincrement of the inner edge face of cam plate 73. The bottomwall of notch 75 is spaced outwardly from the inner rib-like portion 67of plate 51 to snugly engage the peripheral edge of a minimum diametercoin after it passes through coin insertion opening 42 into thereceiving pocket of coin drive means 3l and upon initial settingrotation of coin drive means 3l toward its completed time-settingposition to dispose the coin opposite p notch 7S. At this point in itsmovement, the liametrically opposed marginal portion of the coin restsJn rib-like portion 67 of plate Sl with its adjacent edge aortionabutting the opposing yielding wall portions of the :oin receivingpocket in coin drive means 3ft. It will be ippreciated, therefore', thatthe minimum diameter coin is gripped between the bottom wall of notch 75and the 0pposing yielding wall por-tions of the pocket of coin drivemeans so that upon further setting rotation of coin drive means 3l thecoin will ride along the inner edge of plate 5l, be cammed out of notch75 and inwardly with respect to backing plate 5l so that its inner edgeprotrudes a greater distance inwardly from rib-like portion 67. Uponcontinued setting rotationrof coin drive means, the edge of minimumdiameter coin will engage end'SS of coin release lever 56 in passingalong backing plate 5l to posi- `tively move ejector finger 62 of coinrelease lever S6 downwardly and inwardly to positively force a coindisposed opposite transparent disc 68 toward the coin discharge opening76 located just beyond the end of plate 51. lt will also be appreciatedthat so long as the minimum diameter coin remains in Contact with thecam portion 77 of plate 73 its maximum protrusion inwardly of rib-likeportion of plate 51 will persist. Assuming, therefore, that the minimumdiameter coinis an American dime and that a meter designed to providetwo hours of parking time for a dime is desired, the cam portion 77 willextend continuously to a point just slightly beyond the end of riblikeportion d'7 in order to assure a maximum time setting of the meter.

Small diameter coin cam plate 73 in turn abuttingly supports a combinedmaximum and intermediate diameter coin cam plate 7S, which extendsbetween the counterclockwise lower edge of coin insertion slot 42 andthe end of small diameter coin cam plate 73. Cam plate 78 is suitablyapertured opposite mounting bosses 26 and 27 to receive securing screws72 and is notched at 80 opposite notch 54 of plate 5l to clear end 55 ofcoin release lever Se. The inner edge of cam plate 7S is provided with aiirst inwardly` facing wall portion 79 extendinghalfway of the length ofthe cam portion 77 of coin cam plate 74 to an inwardly extendingshoulder 8l adapted,

' upon engagement of the largest diameter coin, to cam the coin inwardlyso that its inner edge protrudes a greater distance inwardly'of rib-likeportion 67 of plate 5l. during the remainder of the travel of thelargest diameter coin, lt will, furthermore, be appreciated that theadjacent inwardly facing wall portion 82 of coin cam plate 7S is formedat $3 with a shoulder which provides an inwardly oiiset tip SLE whichextends for about one-fth of the length of the second inwardly facingwall portion 32 to provide a cam surface for camming an intermediatediameter coin further inwardly beyond rib-like portion 67 of plate 5l.In this way, the selection of varying time settings in accord with thediameter of the respective coin is readily and simply eifected sinceforcing the respective coins further inwardly of rib-like portion 67 forvarying `periods establishes setting conditions of varying timeintervals enabling varying settings of the time mechanism to beeffected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that if the largestdiameter coin is an American nickel the present cam plate structurewould be effective to set one hours time on the meter, exactly one-halfof the time set by travel of an American dime along the cam surface ofthe small diameter coin plate 73. Also, assuming the intermediatediameterY coin is an American penny the present meter cam plates wouldset one-fth of one hours time 0rA twelve minutes if the coin passingthrough the meter were a penny. ln all cases, the coins will haveminimal face engagement with the chute plates since all the coins willhave one edge margin engaged by the narrow riblike portion 67 of plate5l andthe diametrically opposite coin edges will have minimal cornercontact with the radially disposed wall of backing plate 5l (thedime) orminimal Contact between a marginal face edge of the coin in the meter isincapable during cold weather of freezing over a sufficient area of thecoin faces and chute surfaces to effectively jam the meter duringpassage of the coin to its temporary rest position opposite the viewingwindow openings. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a minimumdiameter coin in travelling through the coin chute assembly willpositively engage the broad end 55 of coin release lever 56 andforcefully propel any coin that may freeze at the window openings fromits freezing contact and that the larger diameter coins will engage theelongated tip 85 of end 55 of coin release lever 56 in their passagethrough the coin chute to similarly positively actuate coin releaselever 56. It follows, therefore, that any freezing of the coin adjacentthe viewing window is forcefully broken up by this lever action toprevent jamming of the meter from this cause also.

The meter chute assembly 52 and the coin insertion slot 42 as well asthe coin discharge passage or opening 76 are completed by a cover plateS8 formed integrally with boss 49 previously described. Cover plate 88is of generally arcuate configuration and extends from mounting boss 28past mounting bosses 27, 26 and 25 and beyond mounting boss is providedwith an upwardly inclined terminal portion $59 providing a coindetlector lug 91. As clearly seen in FIGURE 3, cover plate boss 49opposite the coin insertion opening 42 rises above the plane containingthe top edge of coin cam plate 78 andextends from immediately adjacentthe near end of coin cam plate 78 in a clockwise direction to a pointslightly beyond the coin insertion opening 42. Boss 49 together with thesloping end 52 of cam plate 7S and the slant face 93 of cam plate 74defines a rightwardly directed coin insertion slot for directing coinstoward the near end of backing plate 51. To prevent coins from passingclockwise around the end of backing plate 51, the clockwise end of coincam plate 74 preferably provided has a spacer bar 94 of a thicknessequal to that of coin cam plate 78 and apertured to receive securingscrews '72 of mounting bosses 2S and 29 iixed to it in any suitablemanner. Also as clearly appears from FIGURE l, the inner marginal edgeof cover plate 83 extends radially inwardly of the corresponding innercam edges of coin cam plates 74 and 7S and immediately below the coininsertion slot has a portion deflected upwardly and then parallel to theradial Wall of backing plate 51 to provide a camming finger 95, thepurpose of which will presently appear. The inner marginal edge of coverplate 3S near the opposite end and immediately beyond the adjacent endsof coin cam plates 74 and 78 is similarly dellected upwardly and thengenerally parallel to the radial Wall of backing plate 51 to provide acamming protuberance 95a in spaced overlying relation to ejector finger62 of coin release lever 56. Closely adjacent mounting boss 25 the upperface of cover plate 3S is provided with an upstanding spring terminalstud 191 the function of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

Mounted between mounting bosses 29 and 30 in superposed spaced relationto the wall of casting 23 and in the general plane of cover plate 83 isan arcuate ratchet bar 96. The upper end of ratchet bar 96 is retainedin place by the same securing screw 72 that secures backing plate 51,cam plates 74 and '78v and spacer 94 to mounting post 29. At its upperend, ratchet bar 96 extends in a generally lateral direction to the leftto underlie camming linger 95 of cover plate 33 and is notched at 97 toprovide an end clearance notch for a full stroke pawl provided on thecoin drive means 31. At its opposite end, ratchet bar 96 is providedwith a second end clearance notch 98 adapted to receive the previouslymentioned full stroke pawl when the coin drive means 31 is in its normalrest position. he innermost edge of ratchet bar 96 throughout the areaextending between the respective clearance recesses 97 and 98 isprovided with a series of equal size ratcheting teeth 99 adapted ltocooperate with the full stroke paWl of coin drive means 31 in a mannerand for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

While the coin chute assembly 52 and the ratchet barA 96 may assume anydesired configuration depending upon the path of movement of the coindrive means 31, the present invention contemplates that these elementstake the form of arcuate segments substantially diametrically disposedwith respect to a drive shaft 1112 laterally cenered in the face wall Fof casting 23 and disposed vertically below the coin inserted opening42. Shaft 102 is shown in detail in FIGURE 10 and comprises a main bodyportion 103 of cylindrical configuration in crosssection journalled inthe enlarged aperture of ya centered boss 1114- provided on the faceWall F of casting 23, an outwardly protruding knurled end 105non-rotatably receiving meter setting and winding handle 166, an axiallydirected boss 197 formed at the inner end of main body 1633 by arcuateend faces 108 and diametrically opposed liats 1139 (FGURE l0) and areduced diameter threadedV shank 111. Boss 1117 cooperates with centeredmatingly formed opening 112 of the coin drive means 31 shown in detailin FIGURES 5 and 6. The coin drive means 31 comprises a coin gaugingdisc assembly retained in place upon boss 1117 by a cup-washer 114freely journaled on shank111 and a crown lock nut 115 threaded on theend of shank 111 to confine the main body 116 of the coin gauging discassembly in place between the inner end face of shaft body portion 163and cup-washer 114. As a consequence, the coin drive means 31 is freelyjournaled in ntered boss 11111 of casting 103 and ixedly connected toshaft 162 which is in turn prevented from axial disassociation from boss104 by the free running abutting contact of the hub face of handle 106and the under face of disc body 116 with the opposite ends of boss 104.

The coin gauging disc assembly is made up of main disc body 116containing opening 112 the llat sides 11G of which parallel a centerline inclined in a clockwise direction with respect to a vertical planecontaining the axis of boss 1134 through-an angle of 43 (see FIGURE 5).Using center line C as a reference point and referring to FIGURE 5, theportion of disc body 116 to the left comprises a body portion defined byan approximately arc formed around the center of opening 112 using aradius of 1.187 inches and terminating at its lower end at a point ofintersection with a plane extending along a radius offset from centerline C in a counterclockwise direction through an angle of 30. Movingstill in a clockwise direction, the next portion of body 116 is definedby an approximately 66 arc extending from the counterclockwise end ofthe first mentioned body portion and formed around the center of opening112 using a-'radius of 1.25 inches. Moving again in a counterclockwisedirection, the next body portion is defined by an approximately 98 arcextending from the counterclockwise end of the second body portionandforrned around the center of opening 112 using a radius of 1.906inches. Between the adjacent ends of the rst and third body portionsdisc body 116 is recessed as indicated by numeral 117. It will beappreciated, therefore, that the arcuate peripheral edges of main discvbody 116 are radially off-set with respect to one another and the axisof drive shaft 102 and that body recess 117 in the normal assembly ofthe meter as disclosed in FIGURE 1 lies adjacent the 'right hand end ofthe coin chute assembly S2. To assure the positioning of recess 117 inthis desired position, the left hand end of the arcuate edge of theintermediate portion is formed with a radially outwardly extending,downwardly inclined stop lug 113 the edge 11Sa of which is adapted toabut against an upstanding lug 119 integrally formed on the inner facewall F of casting 23 to determine the normal inoperative position of thecoin drive means.

Closely adjacent to and to the left of stop lug 113 the minor diameterportion of disc body 116 is provided with a radially outwardlyprotruding L-shaped lug 121 having its stem 122 inclined upwardly andits base leg 123 extending clockwise around the periphery of disc Y body116 in a plane paralleling the plane of the body of disc 116. At itsfree end base leg 123 mounts an upstanding cam pin 124, the purpose ofwhich will presently appear.

Disc body along the edge of the major diameter body portion extendingVradially inwardly to join the in termediate diameter body portion isprovided with a generally clockwise annularly extending nger12 inclineddownwardly at 126 and terminating in a mounting portion 127 lying in aplane substantially paralleling the face of disc body 116. Mountingportion 127 of finger supports an upstanding pivot pin 123 adaptedrtojournal a full stroke ratchet pawl 129 lying in the plane of the mainbody of disc body 116. Ask best shown in FGURE 5 ratchet pawlv12f9 has apair of generaliyoppositely extending arms 130 and 131.. Arm 1359 hasits tip 132 shaped to ratchet over teeth 99 of ratchet bar 96 uponcounterclockwise rotation of coin drive means 31 and to drivingly engagesaid teeth 99 upon clockwise rotation of the coin drive means 31 onlyunder certain operating circumstances to be presently pointed out.positioning of ratchet pawl 129 at all times during the rotation of coindrive means 31, arm 131 is provided with an upstanding spring anchorstud 133 adapted to be slidingly received in axial slot 134 of pawloperatln order to insure proper angular` ioy ing link 13S. As best seenin FIGURE 5 pawl operatv ing link 135 comprises a main body portion 13oconnected to the tip portion containing slot 134 by a laterally oil-setintegral loop 137. v At the side edge of body portion 135 opposite thatcontaining loop 137 the link is provided with a pair of laterallyprotruding axially spaced lugs 13S adapted in assembly of the coin drivemeans 31 to be grasped by a pair of pliers, a Wrench or the like, andsqueezed or spread apart to axially adjust the relative length of pawloperating link 135 with respect to the normal desired `position ofspring anchor stud 133 of ratchet pawl 129. AThe pawl operating linkbody portion 13o adjacentiloop 137 is provided with an upstanding springanchor stud 139 adapted to anchor one cnd'of a tension spring 141 havingits opposite end connected to anchor stud 133 of ratchet pawl 129.' Theopposite end of body portion 136 of link 135 is also provided with anupstanding spring anchor stud 139 adapted to anchor one end Ot'a tensionspring 142, the opposite end o which is connected to spring anchor stud1:13 mounted on disc body 116` adjacent the loop 137 of link 135.Sspring is adapted to normally bias pawl operating link 13S aiiallyoutwardly across mounting portion 127 of iingerti' -to engage the innerlend of slot 134 with spring anchor stud-133 thereby.

normally urging ratchet pawl 12% in a clockwise direction around itspivot pin 12S to dispose. arm 1351 out of the path of the ratchet teeth99 or ratchet bar 96. Link 13S at its end remote from ratchet pawl 129is curved to the left as shown in FEGURES 1 and 5 and then back to theright and downwardly to form a depending journal portion 144 (FIGURE 6)adapted to connect the lowermost end of portion 14d of'link 135 to thedepending arm 145 of a generally L-shaped coin thickness gauging lever1415 mounted to rock in a plane at right yangles to the radiallyextending wall of backing plate 51. As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6coin thickness gauging lever 146 is journalledv on a journal pin 147horizontally mounted in the opstanding ear 148 of mounting bracket 149.Mounting bracket 149 is preferably welded to boss 151 (FIGURE 5) formedalong the right hand edge of recess 117 through means of the lower endof ear 14S and comprises a linger member 152 extending outwardly beyondthe major diameter rim portion of disc body 116 and terminating in alaterally and downwardly extending latching ele-V ment 153 located tooverhang the end portion or" outwardly extending cam leg 15d of cointhickness gauging lever 14e at a point directly above the depending C) tC9 ieeler finger 155 (FIGURES 5 and 6) extending toward the radiallydirected wall of backing plate 51 adjacent rib-like portion 67. Sincebiasing spring 142 tends to slide link 135 downwardly and to the rightas viewed in FIGURE l, it will be appreciated that coin thicknessgauging lever 146 will be normally biased in a clockwise directionaround pivot pin 1d? as viewed in FIG- URE 6 to engage the leg 15d oflever 146 with the camming ringer 95 of cover plate 85 when the coindrive means 31 is in its normal inoperative position. This same springforce continues to bias coin thickness gaug-V ing lever 14o in the sameclockwise direction as the coin drive means 31 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FiGURE 1 so that the cam leg 154passes down the inclined surface of camming finger 95 into engagementwith Vthe inner marginal edge of cover plate 31% so long as no coin isentered under feeler linger 155 while the coinV thicknessgauging lever146 is in its normal, inoperative, raised coin receiving positionadjacent coin insertion opening 4t2.

The major diameter portion of disc body 116 adjacent recess 117 isprovided with an opstanding pivot stud 157 for mounting a coin diametergauging arm. To this end, stud` 157 (FIGURES 5 and 6) comprises aminimum diameter rivet stem 153 at one end, an immediately adjacentgauging arm pivot portion 159, an enlarged head portion 161 immediatelyadjacent pivot portion 159 and an opstanding shank portion 162. Inassembling the coin diameter gauging arm 163 to disc body 116, arm le?)is iirst assembled on pivot portion 159 and the rivet stem 158 isl thenriveted to disc body 116 toy rigidly tix pivot stud 157 to the disc body116. To assure free pivoting movement of gauging arm 163, the axiallength of pivot portion 159 preferably exceeds the thickness of arm 16?by a few thousandths of an inch assuring a running clearance of gaugingarm 163 between head 161 and the opposed surface of disc body 116. Asmore clearly appears from FIGURE 5, coin gauging arm 163 comprises arelatively iiat plate-like body 164l having generally peripherallyspacedextension portions 165, 156 and 167 respectively formingclock-winding pawl assembly abutment ringer, a spring anchor postsupport linger and a coin pocket forming arm. As will be clear from aninspection of FGURES l and 5, portion 1&7` of coin gauging arm 163 has apair of angularly related lugs 168 and 169 located respectively adjacentand inwardly of rib-like portion of plate 67 of back plate 51 vand inpartially overhanging relation Vto rib-like portion o7. Furthermore, lug169 is disposed to the lett of lug 168 as viewed in FIGURE l and isinclined at an angle of 45 to the piane of lug 16S to form aledge/disposed to engage the forward under edge of a coin enteredthrough coin insertion openingv 4Z as heretofore described. As a resultof this relationship of lugs 168 and 169 and the opposed coin engagingcan ming edges of small diameter coin cam plate 74 and combined coin camplate 7S, a vcoin passing through coin insertion opening d2 will passdownwardly between cover plate 8S and the opposed tacerof small diametercoin cam plate 73 until'its lower-most edge rests upon lug 1625 at whichtime the coin will be disposed in the coin pocket formed by the coinchute backing plate 51 and the unitarily movable lugs 163 and 169 andthe extension portion 167 or" arm 163. n' To prevent passage out of thispocket in a clockwise direction as viewed in FGURE 1, the underface ofthe enlarged diameter portion of disc body 116 throughout its marginaledge is provided with an arcuate-shaped spacing segment 171 (FIGURE 5)having a notch 172m its inner edge to clear the riveted over portion ofpivot stud 157. This spacer element 171 is so positioned relative tobacking plate 51 ofrcoin chute assembly 52 that it will pass over theradially extending wallvvat a point inwardly of rib-like portion 67during counterclockwise rotation Vor the coin drive means 31 randabuttingly engage the trailing edge of anyl coin dcposited in the meterpocket heretofore described. As a consequence a positive driving forceis applied to each Coin in its passage through the coin chute assembly52 so that the respective coins will be forcefully driven against theupstanding end 55 of coin release lever 56 to effectuate forcefulremoval of the previous coin from the bullseye window of the meter'.

The spring stud linger extension 166 of coin gauging arm 163 is providedwith a spring stud 173 adapted to support one end of a coil tensionspring 174 the opposite end of which is connected to a spring anchorstud 175 iixed to main disc body 116 at a point to bias coin gauging arm163 in a clockwise direction around its pivot stud 157. Such clockwisebiasing movement of coin engaging arm 163 is effective throughclock-winding pawl assembly abutment linger 165 to bias a clock-windingpawl 176 in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot stud 177 fixedin disc body 116 in predetermined spaced relation to pivot stud 157 in amanner similar to the attachment of pivot stud 157 to disc body 116. Asclearly seen from FGURES and 6 clock-winding pawl 176 comprises a mainbody area and a short spring anchor stud bearing arm 178 lying in acommon plane and a substantially oppositely related upstanding andcounterclockwise extending pawl engaging finger 179 the free end ofwhich is of dove-tail coniiguration as indicated at 131. Finger 179 atits end 181 extends outwardly of the edge of the major diameter portionof disc body 116 in substantially spaced relation above the disc body(FGURE 6) to engage, whenever a coin cams coin-engaging arm 163counterclockwise around its pivot stud 157, dove-tail portion 181 ofcoin-engaging linger 179 with one or another of the ten 9 angularlyspaced pick-up lugs 135 of the rack ring 182 of the cam plate assembly133 of the flag movement and cam unit 36, which will be presentlydescribed in detail. The clockwise trailing faces of lugs 186 areforwardly inclined at an angle of 10 to a radius passing through theintersection of the trailing faces of the lugs with the bottom wall ofthe space between lugs and the trailing face of the minimum diametercoin drive lug is located about 5 counterclockwise of a vertical planecontaining the axis of rack ring 182 and diametrically opposed securingscrew openings as viewed in FIGURE 7 to assure a proper relative angularrelationship to drive end 184 of clock winding pawl 176. Thiscounterclockwise movement of coin-engaging arm 163 is eliective throughthe light coil spring 185 interconnecting the respective spring anchorstuds 186 and 187 respectively carried by extension portion 165 ofcoin-engaging arm 163 and arm 178 of clock-winding pawl 176 to swingclock-winding pawl 176 clockwise around its pivot stud 177 to disposelinger end 181 in driving engagement with rack ring 152. A mastertension spring 188 extending between spring anchor stud 189 fixed todisc body 116 and stud 191 of cover plate 8S of coin chute assembly 52is provided to normally bias the entire coin drive means 31 to itsnormal coinreceiving inoperative position. The under face of the minordiameter and intermediate diameter portions of disc body 116 throughouttheir angular length to a point adjacent the counterclockwise side ofstop pin 65 is provided with a spacer segment 191. As best seen in FIG-URE 5, segment 191 and segment 171 previously described are preferablywelded to the under surface of disc body 116 although any other suitablemeans of attachment might be used.

Referring now 4for the moment to FIGURES 7 through 9, the meter clockand indicator flag unit 36 is made up of clock mechanism 194, timeindicator liag 37 and its associated linkage, expired time iiag 38 andits associated linkage and cam plate assembly 183 all supported on amain mounting plate 195. Plate 195 is adapted by slots 196 suitablyarranged in the opposite side edges to cooperate with headed mountingstuds 197 (FIGURES 1 and 2) permanently fixed in bosses 32, 34 and 35 ofdoor casting 23 and removable clamp screw 19S threadedly associated withboss 33 of door casting 23 to be fastened in place in operativejuxtaposition to coin drive means 31. In this connection, it is to beunderstood that ag movement and cam unit 36 is disposed on posts 32, 33,34 and 35 with the cam plate assembly 183 directly opposing coindrivemeans 31 and rack ring 132 in concentric encircling relation to themajor diameter portion of disc body 116 and in a plane intersected bythe wedge-shaped end 181 of finger 179 of clock-winding pawl 176. Asmost clearly appears from FIGURE 7, cam plate assembly 183 is made up ofrack ring 182 and a substantially equal diameter mounting or cam plate201 having mounting tabs 2192 struck therefrom and standing upwardly tothreadedly receive respective mounting screws 203 and 204 securing ring182 and cam plate 2191 for rigid unitary movement. As most clearlyappears in FIGURE 8, screw 2114 is of greater axial length than screws203 so its end protrudes backwardly beyond the back face of plate 261 toform a limiting stop spaced 99 clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 7 from theinitial drive lug trailingv face of ring 182.

Cam plate 261 is provided with a concentric arcuate slot 256 adjacentits peripheral edge adapted to freely pass an upstanding hooked finger297 formed on the expired time iiag linkage to be presently described.Cam plate 2111 also contains an arcuate slot 29S helically disposed withrespect to the axis of plate 201 adapting it to Serve as a cam slot tocam time indicator setting or cam pin 299 in a direction to swingindicator iiag 37 and its supporting bell crank link 210 from itsnormally biased expired time position to the maximum liag setting, inthe illustrated embodiment a setting to afford a user two hours ofparking time. Cam plate 2111 is centrally apertured at 211 to receivethe hub 212 of a mounting plate 213 fixed to the clock spring or driveshaft 214 of clock mechanism 37. As clearly appears from a considerationof FIGURE 7, mounting plate 213 is dimensioned to freely pass throughthe centered aperture 215 formed in backing or support plate and mountscam plate assembly 183 for relative rotation with respect to backingplate 195 and the iag and indicator pointer linkage mounted for movementbetween cam plate 201 and backing plate 195. To this end mounting plate213 is provided with three equi-angularly spaced tapped openings forreceiving mounting screws 216. Cam plate 261 is also provided with aconcentrically arranged slot 217 for slidingly receiving the shank of aclamp screw 218 threaded into and adapted to adjustably mount asegmental cam element 219 against the back face of plate 201. As seen inFIGURE 7, the inner edge of 4cam element 219 slidingly cooperates withthe periphery of mounting plate 213 and its leading tip 221 is disposedto follow a path spaced a deiinite distance outwardly from the peripheryof plate 213. Just beyond this path at a point directly below the axisof opening 215, plate 195 mounts a pivot stud 222 for pivotallysupporting expired flag control lever223. Directly above opening 215 inthe plane containing the axes of opening 215 and stud 222, plate 195supports indicator flag link 21?. Link 210 comprises a bell crankpivoted at 224 on a pivot stud secured in backing plate 195 and having ashort arm 22S carrying cam or setting pin 289 and a long arm 229removably mounting an indicator pointer 231 by means of a clamp screw232 threaded into the free end of arm 229 to force the depressed boss233 at the free inner end of indicator ag 231 into a receiving opening234 formed in arm 229. y Pointer crank arm 219 is biased to its normalexpired time position, an extreme counterclockwise position as viewed inFIGURES 7 and 9, by means of a tension spring 235 having one end securedin a spring attachment opening 236 in arm 223 of bell crank 211i and itsother end connected to a spring retainer tab 237 formed by Striking aportion of the backing plate 195 outwardly. Spring 235 is normallydisposed to abu'ttingly encircle the peripheral edge gr mounting plate213 as most clearly shown in FIG- Control lever 223 is inclined upwardlyat 241 to dispose its free end 242 (FIGURE 8) in a plane offset from itspivoted end and is provided at one side of the sloping area 241 with alaterally extending spring securing ear 243 having one end of a biasingspring 24d secured thereto. The opposite end of biasing spring 24e issuitably secured to a tab 245 struck out of the metal or the edge ofplate 195. This biasing spring normally biases control lever 223 in aclockwise direction as viewed in FGURES 7 and 9 around the axis of itspivot pin 222 for a purpose to be presently pointed out. Lever 223intermediate its free end and ear 243 carries hooked arm 207 which ispreferably integrally formed along the edge of link 223. The free end oflink 223 also carries a pivot pin 247 for pivotally mounting the end 248of a latching link 249 the opposite ends 248 and 251 of which areaxially offset and ioined by an arcuate intermediate portion 252.Portion 252 has an abutment pivot finger 253 extending inwardly from itsminor diameter edge in overlying spaced relation to the pivoted endy oflever 223. As best seen in FIGURE 9, end 251 or" lever 249 -is disposedat lthe lower end of an axially extending downwardly inclined portion254 extending toward plate 195 from the level of end 243 and arcuateportion 252 so that its extreme end lies substantially in a'plane spacedabove the plane of the pivoted end of lever 22? and intersecting theinclined portion 241 and lying between the planes of the opposite endsot link 223 as said link ends appear in FIGURE 8. It will beappreciated, therefore, that the arcuate portion 252 of latch lever 249moves in a plane quite close to the back face of cam plate 201 andWidely spaced from the opposing face of plate'195 (see FIGURE 8).Arcuate portion 252 adjacent the inclined portion 254 mounts a pivotstudA 255 pivotally supporting a latch lever pawl 256 having anupstanding finger 259 lying in the path of finger 253 of latch lever249. Fawl finger 259 is biased into normal contacting engagement withthe end of finger V253' by means of a biasing spring 253 surrounding pin255 and having its opposite ends respectively hooked around the inclinedportion 254 of latch lever 249 and the body oi' pawl 256. Latch leverpawl 256 is adapted through its finger 259 to normally ride on the outercam surface 251 of cam 219 during the normal setting and time dispensingoperation of the meter between the cam surface 251 and the end of finger253 of latch lever 249. is effective upon expiration of the set time tobe moved by engagement of pin 124 of coin drive means 31 with finger 2&7of expired flag control lever 223 inwardly past tip 221 of cam 219 intothe path of the leading end of cam 219 (FIGURES 1, 7 and 9). As aconsequence, the time mechanism cannot be moved in a direction to setthe meter for operation except upon insertion ot a coin and propel'operation of crank handle 1th?. It will be appreciated, therefore, thatfree time cannot be set up on the meter by unscrupulous users passing awire throughV the coin slot and hooking the indicator pointer 231, itscrank lever 21d) or any portion of the cam assembly 153.

The expired time iiag 38 comprises a pair of laterally spaced indicatorplates 265 overlapping and xed to each other at their opposite ends (seeFIGURE 9). The resulting open ended flag signal is secured as byriveting 266 to the upper end of a support lirk or post 257, the loweropposite end of which is pivotally supported on the free end 251 oflatch lever 212-9 by a rivet stud 268. Link 267 is maintained in uprightposition by reason of its pivoted connection at 269 to the long arm 272of a crank arm 272 pivoted on a pivot stud 273 xedly secured in backingplate 195. Arm 271 of bell crank lever 272 and arm 251 of latch lever249 extend in general parallelism to one another in order thatrespective turning movements about tr eir major pivot axes 247 and 273will assure approximately vertical movement of link 267 and the attachedfiag plate 265 either upon movement of lever 249 around its pivot 247upon release of linger 259 by cam 2191 or clockwise swinging movement oflever 223 carrying pivot Fawl linger 259 lso l2 stud 247 upon Vreleaseof nger 297 by pin 124 of coin drive mechanism 31 when mechanism 31ismoved in a direction Jto set time on the meter.

As clearly seeny from FIGURES 7 through 9, the expired `time flag, whendisposed in its depicted position opposite meter window 41, hides theend of pointer 231 obscuring pointer 231 from View through the oppositemeter observation windows. To assure proper positioning of the flagmembers 265 opposite the Windows in this normally spring biasedposition' of the expired time flag, the opposite arm 274 of bell crank272 terminates in a spring attachment lug 275 adapted to be secured toone end of a tension spring 276 connected to a spring anchor tab 277struck out of the metal of backing plate 195. As will be clear from aninspection of FlGURE 9, spring 276 biases bell crank 272 in a clockwisedirection around its pivot pin 273 into contact with the expired flagpositioning stop 273 fixed to plate 195 in a suitable position toproperly locate the expired time flag plates 265.'

Referring for the moment to FIGURE 7 and to FIG- URE l, it is to beunderstood that pin 124 of coin drive means 31 normally engages finger227 of control lever 223 when the coin drive means 31 is in its normalcoin receiving position illustrated in FIGURE l. As a consequence, thefree end of control lever 223 carrying pivot 247 normally assumesthe-'dotted line position indicated in FIGURE 7. This dotted line orhome position disposes abutment pivot finger 253 and pawl finger 259 inthe path of cam segment 219, the position assumed when no timeisavailable for parking, provided cam 219 is positioned as seen inFIGURE 7. ln this position, the expired time iiag is clearly visible andthe position of the iiag is determined by the abutment of arm 274 withstop pin 278 iixed also in backing plate 195.r This position of theexpired time fiag 3S for the normal home position ofthe meter after allpaid time has elapsed is readily obtained by loosening clamp screw 218to tree cam 219 andholding lever 223 in the home position then movingscrew 213 in slot 217 counterclockwise from a position supporting pawlfinger 259 to a point just sufiicient to `clear finger 259. Upontightening of screw 213 the proper setting of the expired time flag 35will have been established. y

FromV the foregoing description, it can be ascertained that twooperating conditions affect the position of the expiredtime flag. Thisflag is normally spring-biased by spring 276 to an exposed (or expiredor violation) position in the viewing windows 44. In order to lretractexpired time fiag 38 to a nonviewable position, cam segment 219 must bemoved clockwise from the position .of FIGURE 7 into position to holdpawl finger 259 (and Vfinger 253) downwardly and pin 124 must be inposition to hold finger 2=b7'upwardly. Thus, latch lever 249 is leveredto pull the violation flag downwardly out of the viewing windows. Ifeither one of these conditions is not present, the violation flag willshow.

Adjacent the right hand edge of plate 195 as will most clearly appearfrom FIGURE 9, backing plate 125 is provided with an elongated slot 233slidingly receiving the shank of clamp screw 28d threaded into the bodyof a stop member 235 formed with a positioning tab 255 at one enddesigned to ride in slot 283 and an upstanding abutment shoulder 257located at its other end. This stop member 285 as most clearly appearsfrom FIGURE 8 is adjustably positioned to be abuttingly engaged by theshank of screw 264 located adjacent the last pickup tooth of ring 182 soas to determine the Vzero registering position of indicator pointer 231and arrest driving movement of the clockwork 37 when the time paid forhas expired.

From the preceding description it will be apparent that the expired timeflag 3S will be held in its inoperative out of view position when timeis set on the meter 'only so long as pin 124 holds control lever 223 inthe dottel line y position of FIGURE 7. lt follows; therefore, that theexpired time flag is displayed each time that crank handle 166 isoperated to set time 'on the meter irrespective of whether the timeindicator 37 has reached its normal home or zero position and willremain displayed until the coin drive means 31 is returned to its normalhome or coin receiving position illustrated in FIGURE l. Accordingly,the present meter, unlike its predecessors, will display the expiredtime ag in event the coin drive means 31 becomes jammed by freezing orfor other reasons in any position other than its home or normal coinreceiving position. It follows, therefore, that the present meter willimmediately indicate a jammed meter by displaying the violation orexpired time flag so that the meter inspector or patrolman may detectthe situation and prevent meter cheating over an extensive length oftime.

Operation Assuming the coin drive means 31 is in its home or coinreceiving position as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and that the flag movementand cam unit 36 is in its home or coin receiving position as shown inFIGURE 7, insertion of a coin into the coin insertion slot 42 willresult in the coin falling into the pocket defined by fingers 163 and169 of coin gauging arm 163 and the adjacent end of the spacing segment171 in a generally canted position determined by the engagement of theopposite coin edges with the rib-like portion 67 of plate 51 and theface of the minimum diameter coin or dime cam plate 73. Counterclockwisemovement of crank handle 106 as viewed in FIGURE 1 initially moves drivemeans 31 in a direction to withdraw pin 124 from finger 267 allowingspring 244 to swing lever 223 and lever 249 around their respectivepivots 222 to carry pawl finger 259 radially outwardly from the axis ofclock shaft 214 to the position shown in FIGURE 9 clearing the path formovement of cam segment element 219 to its time set position. Thisassures inoperative non-visible positioning of the expired time flag`upon release of crank handle 106 upon re-engagement of pin 124 withlinger 207 as return spring 18S returns drive means 31 to its homeposition. Continued counterclockwise rotation of crank handle 106 movescoin drive means 31 to drive the coin along chute assembly 52 and, inevent it is a minimum diameter coin its uppermost edge will fall intonotch 75 of cam plate 73. Continued counterclockwise driving movement ofmeans 31 will cam the coin inwardly past rib-like portion 67 due toengagement of the opposite coin edge with the sloping wall at thecounterclockwise end of notch 75. This camming action causes the coin toforce coin gauging arm 163 to swing in a counterclockwise directionaround its pivot stud 157 and tensioning spring 185 and thereby forcingfinger 179 of clock winding pawl 181 into position to pick up theinitial tooth 181)' of rack ring 152. Further counterclockwise rotationof crank handle 106 thereafter drives the minimum diameter coin againstupstanding finger 55 of coin release lever 56 to positively drive camlever 56 in a counterclockwise direction around pivot 57 as viewed inFIGURE 1 to eject a previously deposited coin from the area of bulls-eyeopening 7i). Thereafter further counterclockwise rotation of handle 166engages the coin edge opposite pocket fingers 168 and 169 with camsurface 77 to retain coin gauging arm 163 in its counterclockwise rockedposition and maintain the tension on spring 185 causing clock windingpawl pickup finger end 181 disposed in the path of the appropriatelyrelated pickup tooth 181) to rotate ring 182 and cam plate 291 in adirection to wind the clock mechanism 37 and eect a commensurate settingof the time indicator fiag 37. As cam 219 on cam plate 201 moves toposition'its cam surface 261 inwardly of latch lever arm finger 253 itsassociated pawl finger 259 is positioned to serve as a pivot for lever249, thereby effecting a setting of the expired time flag mechanism inposition to be lowered to its inoperative non-viewable position uponreturn lof the coin drive means 31 to its home or coin receivingposition of FIGURE l with pin 124 engaged with finger 267. During suchsetting movement of coin operating means 31 the finger 154 of cointhickness gauging lever 146 rides down oft 'of cam 95 to engage feelerfinger 155 with the upper coin face as viewed in FIGURE 1 therebypermitting spring 142 to slide full stroke pawl operating lever 135axially downwardly as viewed in FIGURE 1 to rotate full stroke pawl 129in a clockwise direction around its pivot pin 128 thereby moving tip 132out of recess 98 into ratcheting relation to the teeth 99 of rack bar96. As a consequence of this positioning of full stroke pawl 129,retrograde movement of coin drive means 31 in a clockwise direction solong as a coin is disposed beneath finger 155 of lever 146 is prevented.As soon as the coin reaches the end of cam surface 77 at a pointadjacent but ahead of bulls-eye opening 70, finger 154 of lever 146rides up onto cam surface a releasing the coin for immediate fallingmotion forwardly off of finger 169 into engagement with tip 63 and thebase of finger 62 of lever 56 and the associated rib structure of theface F of casting 23 to maintain the coin supported opposite thebulls-eye 70 until forcibly released by the next inserted coin. The sameaction is effected by maximum and minimum diameter coins driven alongchute assembly 52 in supported relation upon rib-like portion 67 of backplate 51 and the face of cam plate 74 immediately adjacent the edgefaces 79, S2 and 54 of cam plate '75.

Whatever coin setting is effected, the clock drives cam plate 261 andring 1,82 in a direction opposite that effected during the setting'operation until time indicator flag reaches its zero indicatingposition determined by the position of pin 2119 in cam slot 20S and camelement 219 returns to the dotted line position of FIGURE 7. At thistime, pawl finger 259 rides off the end of cam element 219 and'spring276 snaps arm 274 of bell crank 272 against pin 278 thereby raising flag38 to its visible position, such raising movement being permitted byrotation of lever 249 around pivot 247 held in the dotted line positionof FIGURE 7 by engagement of pin 124 with finger 267.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description of operation thatthe setting of the meter mechanism, the indicator pointer and theexpired time flag is effected due to the coin camming movement of thecoin gauging arm 163 in accord with the diameter of the coin and thatthe extent of setting operations depends upon the relative angularpositioning of the cam surfaces of cam plates 74 and 78 and the pickupfingers 180 of ring 182. Accordingly, a meter embodying the constructionof' the meter of the present application can be readily adapted toaccommodate varying diameter coins irrespective of the coin value byappropriately locating the respective cam surfaces 77 S2 and 84angularly along the path of movement 'of the coin. Although the instantmeter disclosure employs an arcuate coin path and rotatable coin drivemeans, it will be appreciated that longitudinally reciprocable coindrive means situated alongside of a longitudinally extending coin chuteof the general crosssectional configuration of'that disclosed in thepresent application could equally well be employed. It will furthermorebe clearly apparent that the anti-backup or full stroke pawl mechanism,which is operated by engagement of feeler finger 155 with a coinpositioned in the coin pocket 4formed by fingers 169 and 168, willprevent retrograde movement of the coin drive means during setting ofthe meter mechanism. However, if no coin is disposed beneath feelerfinger 155, lever 146 will be rocked downwardly under influence ofspring 142 to shift link axially sufficiently to swing tip 132 of fullstroke pawl inwardly out of the path of ratchet teeth 99 and coingauging arm 163 will not be rocked by the camming action of the coin toposition clock winding pawl to pick up the complete assembly 183 'of thesetting mechanism. Consequently handle 106 and coin drive means 31 maybe freely rotated without effecting any wear and tear on the vital partsof the meter so long as no coin` without departing from the spirit 'oressential character-l istics thereof. The present embodiment istherefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes whichcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 'f

1. In a multi-coin manually operable parking meter comprising amechanism housing having an opening in its peripheral wall through whichdeposited coins pass to a coin box, a centered through shaft opening ina face Wall, a coin insertion slot in a face wall and a meter mechanismmounted in said housing and including a windable clock mechanism, a timeindicator pointer driven by said clock mechanism, an expiredtimeindicator and a driven member for winding said clock mechanism andpositioning said time indicator for timing operation: a coin controlledtime setting mechanism for said meter mechanism comprising an arcuatecoin chute extending between said coin insertion slot and' lsaidperipheral wall opening and comprising a generally radially disposedwall having an arcuate upstanding rib formation along its innermost edgeand a radially outwardly disposed stepped passage detining wallproviding a firstcontinuous arcuate wall portion concentric with saidshaft opening and immedif .lately adjacent said generally radiallydisposed wall said first arcuate wall portion cooperating with saidupstanding rib formation to support and guide a minimum diameter coin inspaced spanningrelation to said radially disposed wall and having aradially outwardly offset segment at its end adjacent said coininsertion slot forming with said first arcuate wall portion a shoulderportion adapted to cam a minimum diameter coin inwardly as it passes romsaid oliset segment, a second continuous arcuate wall portionimmediately adjacent said first continuous arcuate wall portion andcomprising a first concentric arcuate segment of predetermined lengthcooperating with said upstanding rib formation and the side face ofvsaidfirst continuous wall portion to support and guide a maxn irnum diametercoin in spaced spanning relation to said radially disposed wall andterminating at its end vremote from said coin insertion slot in a secondshoulder adapted to engage the edge ofa maximum diameter coin- `as itpasses from said coin insertion slot to camsaid maximum diameter coininwardly and merging into a radiallyin- Wardly offset concentric arcuatesegment of predetermined length cooperating with said upstanding ribformation and the side face of said first continuous Wall portion tosupport and guide an intermediate diameter coin in spaced spanningrelation'to said radially disposed wall and terminating in a thirdinwardly directedtransition shoulder adapted to engage the edge of saidintermediate diameter coin as it passes along said coin chute to'camsaid in# termediate diameter coin inwardly, said third inwardly directedshoulder having 4a terminal concentric arcuate segment ofpredetermined-length; a shaft journalledin said centered through shaftopening with its opposite ends protruding from the opposite ends of saidcentered through shaft opening; coin drive-means xedly mounted on theend'of said shaft disposed in said housing and including abutment meansengageable with the trailing edge portion of a coin disposed in the coininsertion slot, pivoted lever means biased to engage the inner edgeportion and the a@ unsupported face of a coin disposed in said arcuatecoin chute, and a pickup finger engaged Iby a portion of said pivotedlever means and adapted, upon inward camming movement of said pivotedlever means by a coin moving through said coin chute, to drivinglyengage said driven member of said meter mechanism; and manual crankmeans fixedly mounted on the other end of said shaft adapted to begrasped by a coin depositorto rotate said shaft and its associated coinactuated drive means to drive said coin along said coin chute to a pointadjacent said peripheral wall opening and maintain said driven memberengaged by said pickup finger for varying increments of rotation of saidcoin vactuated drive means to set said meter mechanism yfor timedoperation in accord with the diameter gauged value of said respectivedriven coins.

2. The multic`oin parking meter of claim 1 wherein the generallyradially disposed `arcuate wall of said arcuate coin chute is providedwith a slot adjacent 'the coin insertion slot end and journals on itsface oposite that upon which said upstanding rib formation is formed, acam means having ya first portion protruding through said slot into thepath of movement of coins passing through said arcuate coin chute and asecond portion having a coin receiving pocket adjacent said peripheralwall opening and adapted to retain a coin which has passed through saidcoin chute until the next succeeding coin forcefully engages said rstlportion to swing said cam in a direction to discharge said retainedcoin through said peripheral wall kopening and said face wall containingAsaid coin insertion slot is provided with a window opening at a pointopposite said coin receiving pocket to permit inspection of used coinsby responsible meter inspectors.

3. The multi-coin parking meter of claim 1 wherein said pivoted levermeans comprises a pair of lever systems one of which has a memberengaging the inner edge portion of the coins and means to hold said onelever system against relative transverse movement with respect to saidarcuate coin chute until the newly deposited coin is driven past saidcoin insertion slot and the other of which has a member engageable withthe unsupported face of the newly deposited coin prior to release ofsaid one lever system and a ratcheting pawl moved to ratcheting positionwhen said last mentioned member engages the unsupported coin face andsaid housing mounts a ratchet segment along the path of movement of saidratcheting pawl adapted to cooperate with said ratcheting pawl toEassure only full unidirectional movement of the manual crank means andcoin actuated drive means when a coin is once deposited in the coindelivery slot thereby preventing retrograde movement to secure a timesetting greater than warranted by the size of the newly deposited coin.f

4. The multi-coin parking meter of claim 1 wherein said expired timeindicator has indicating and non-indicating positions and is carried bya linkage biased to dispose said expired time indicator in itsindicating position yand conjointly operating camming means are providedrespectively on said coin actuated drive means and said driven memberfor engaging respective elements of said linkage to holdy said expiredtime indicator in its nonindicating position only when said coin drivemeans is-in its home position and during said timing operation.

5. The multi-coin parking meter of claim 1 wherein the pivoted levermeans comprises an anti-reversing lever system for said coin drivemeans. and a meter mechanism setting lever system comprising a pair oflinks respectively pivoted for rotation around pins paralleling the axisof said shaft and rigidly spaced from one another for unitary rotationin outwardly radially spaced relation around said shaft axis, one ofsaidY links having an arm the free end of which is disposed to move inan arcuate path in overlying relation t0 said generally radiallydisposed wall of said coin chute and havingv linger elements extendinginto juxtaposition to Said arcuate upstanding rib formation andcooperating with said abutment means of said coin dr1ve means to form amovable coin pocket adapted t0 position respective inserted coins formovement along said coin chute and also having a pair of generally oppo`sitely related arms carrying spring posts, and the other of said linkscomprising a pickup -nger normally lying for movement in an arcuate pathadjacent said driven member and an angularly related arm lying adjacentone ot the oppositely related arms of saidl one link and carrying aspring post; spring means interconnecting the spring posts of saidadjacently related arms of said pair of links to normally bias saidrespective links in opposite directions around their respective axes,said pickup finger cooperating with a portion of the pivot pin of saidone link to provide a normal relative position of said oppositely biasedlinks; and selector spring means connected to the spring post oi saidother oppositely related arm of Said one link and to a spring postrigidly related to said link pivot pins for Vrotation therewith aroundsaid shaft axis to urge said one link in a direction to yieldinglyposition said finger elements in engagement with the edge of saiddeposited coin at points generally diametrically opposite the points ofengagement of said deposited coin with said stepped passage deiiningwall whereby upon inward camming movement of said coin said pickupfinger will be swung outwardly by said one link to drivingly engage saiddriven member and remain drivingly engaged so long as said coin remainsin engagement with its `predetermined length arcuate segment of saidstepped passage deiining wall to effect a predetermined related timesetting of said meter mechanism clock mechanism and time indicatorpointer.

6. The multi-coin parking meter of claim 1 wherein the pivoted levermeans comprises a meter mechanism setting lever and anti-reversing leversystem for said coin drive means comprising a first link pivoted formovement in a plane at right angles to said radially disposed Wall ofsaid chute and having an arm terminating in a pair of right angularlyrelated lingers one of which depends towards said radially disposed wallof said chute and has its free end disposed to move in a path overlyingthat portion of said radially disposed wall lying adjacent to saidupstanding rib formation and they second inger of which extendscrosswise of and in overlying spaced relation to said radially disposedwall at a level above the highest point oi said stepped passage definingwall and a second angularly related depending arm; a second link pivotedat one end to said second arm and overlying said coin drive means withits opposite end having an axially directed pin slot therein; aratcheting pawl pivoted on said coin drive means adjacent said oppositeend of said second link and having a drive pin extending into said pinslot; spring means interconnecting said drive pin and said second linktol bias said drive pin to the inner end of said pin slot and serve as aresilient draft connection between said second link and said pawl; aratchet bar lying along the path of movement followed by said ratchetpawl during rotation of said coin drive means; and spring means biasingsaid links in a direction to swing said free end of said one nger towardsaid radially disposed chute wall and condition said one finger to serveas a coin sensing nger whereby said anti-reversing lever system will beoperatively set only when a coin is disposed in said coin drive means.

7. In a multi-coin manually operable parking v-meter comprising amechanism housing having an opening in its peripheral wall through whichdeposited coins pass to a coin box, a shaft opening in a face wall, acoin inv sertion slot in a face wall and a meter mechanism mounted insaid housing and including a windable clock mechanism, a time indicatorpointer driven by said clock mechanism, an expired time indicator and adriven member for winding said clock mechanism and positioning said timeindicator for timing operation; a coin Controlled time settingmechanism` for said meter mechal nism comprising'a coin chute extendingbetween said coin insertion slot and said peripheral wall opening andcomprising a generally planar wall having an upstanding rib formationalong one edge and an oppositely disposed stepped passage defining wallproviding a first continuous wall portion extending along one side ofsaid sha-ft opening immediately adjacent said planar wall andcooperating with said upstanding rib formation to supportV and guide aminimum diameter coin in spaced spanning relationto said planar wall andhaving an outwardly offset segment at its end adjacent said coininsertion slot forming with said first Wall portion a shoulder portionadapted to cam a minimum diameter coin toward said one edge as it passestrom'said offset segment, a second continuous wall portion immediatelyadjacent but at a higher level than said rst continuous wall portion andcomprising a rst segment of predetermined length cooperating withsaid'upstanding rib formation and the upper side face of said firstcontinuous wall portion t0 support and guide larger diameter coins inspaced spaning relation to said planar wall and terminating at its endremote from said coin insertion slot in a second shoulder adapted toengage the edge of a maximum diameter coin as it`passes from said coininsertion slot to cam said maximum diameter coin toward said one edgeand merging into a secondr inwardly offset segment of predeterminedlength cooperating with said upstanding rib formation and said side faceof said rst continuous wall portion to support and guide said largercoins in spacedrspanning relation to said planar wall, said furtherodset segment terminating in a third inwardly directed shoulder adaptedto engage the edge of an intermediate opening; coin drive means xedlymounted on the endy of said shaft means and disposed in said housing andincluding abutment means engageable with the trailing edge portion of acoin disposed in the coin insertion slot, pivoted lever meansresiliently biased to engage the free edge portion and the unsupportedface of a coin disposed in said insertion slot and passing along saidcoin chute, and a pickup ylinger engaged by a portion of said pivotedlever means and adapted, upon inward camming movement of said pivotedlever means by a coin moving through said coin chute, to be positionedto drivingly engage said driven member of said meter mechanism; andmanual means xedly mounted on the other end of said shaft means adaptedto be grasped by a coin depositor to manually move said shaft and itsassociated coin drive means in a predetermined manner to drive said coinalong said coin chute to a point adjacent said peripheral wall openingand thereby position said pickup `linger and maintain said driven memberengaged by said piclup dinger during varying increments of movement ofsaid coin drive means to set said meter mechanism for'timed operation inaccord with the diameter gauged value of said respective driven coins.

8. The multi-coin parking meter of claim 7 wherein the planar wall ofsaid coin chute is provided With a slot adjacent the coin insertion slotend and journals on its face opposite that upon which said upstandingrib formation is formed, a cam means having a first portion protrudingthrough said slot into the path of movement of coins passing throughsaid coin chute and a second portion having a coin receiving pocketadjacent said peripheral Wall opening and adapted to retain a coin whichhas passed through said coin chute until the next succeedingcoin'forcefully engages said irst cam portion to'swing said cam in adirection to discharge said retained coin said pivoted vlevermeans'comprises an anti-reversing lever system for said coin drive meansand a meter mechanism setting lever system comprising a pair of linksrespectively pivoted for rotation around pins paralleling the path ofmovement of said'shaft means and rigidly spaced from one another forunitary movement along said path of movement, one of said links havingan arm the free end of which is disposed to moveiin a path in overlyingrelation to said planar wallV of said coin chute and having ringerelements extending into juxtaposition to said upstandingrib formationand cooperating with said abutment means of said coin drive means toAform a movable coin pocket adapted to position respective insertedcoins for movement along said coin chute and also having a pair ofgenerally oppositely related arms carrying spring posts and the other ofsaid links having a pickupfiinger normally lying for movement in a pathadjacent said driven member and an angularly related arm lying adjacentone of the oppositely related arms of said one link and carrying aspring post; spring means interconnecting the spring posts of-saidadjacently related arms of said pair of links to normally bias saidrespective links in opposite directions around their respective axes,said pickup finger cooperating with a portion of the pivotV pin of saidone link to provide anormal relative position of said oppositely biasedlinks; and selector spring means connectedfto the spring post of saidother oppositely related arm of said one link and to a spring postrigidly related to said link pivot pins for movement therewith alongsaid path of movement, said selector spring means being adapted to urgesaid one link in a direction to yieldingly position said finger elementsin engagement with the edgel of said deposited coin at points generallydiametrically opposite the points of engagement of said deposited coinwith said stepped passage defining wall whereby upon camming movement ofsaid' coin said pickup iinger will be swung by said one link todrivingly engage said driven member and will remain drivingly engaged solong as said coin remains in engagement with its predetermined lengthwall segment of said stepped passage defining wall to eiiect apredetermined related time setting of said meter mechanism clockmechanism and time indicator pointer.

l0. The multi-coin parkingV meter of claim 7 wherein the pivoted levermeans comprises a meter mechanism setting lever and anti-reversing leversystem for said coin drive means comprising a iirst link pivoted formovement in a plane at right-angles to said planar wall of said chuteand having an arm terminating in a pair of right angularly relatedfingers one of' which depends toward said planar wall of said chute andhas its free end disposed to move in a path overlying that portion ofsaid planar wall lying adjacent to said upstanding rib formation and thesecond finger of which extends crosswise of and' in overlying spacedrelation to said planar wall at a level above the highest point of saidstepped passage dening Wall and a second angularly related dependingarm; a second link pivoted at one end to said second arm and overlyingsaid coin drive means with its opposite end having an axiallydirectedipin slot therein; a ratcheting'pawl pivoted on said coin drivemeans adjacent said opposite end of said second link and having a drivepin extending into said pin slot; springmcans interconnecting saidVdrive pin and said second link to bias said drive pin to the inner endof said pin slot and serve as a resilient draft connection between saidsecond link and said pawl; a ratchet bar lying along the path ofmovement CIJ , 20 followed by said ratchet pawl during movement of saidcoin drive means; and spring means biasing said links in a direction tovswing said free end of said one inger toward said planar chuteiwall andcondition said' one finger to serve as a coin sensing finger wherebysaid antireversing lever system willbe operatively set only when a coinis disposed in saidcoin drive means.

11. In combination Witha parking or like meter having a coin insertionslot and a meterV mechanism including a I windable clock mechanism, atime indicator, an expired 'time indicator mechanism and means forwinding said clock mechanism and setting said indicators: a coin conltrolled time setting mechanism comprising` a coin chute extending fromsaid coin insertion slot to a point of discharge and having a back plateone edge of which is formed with an opstanding coin supportsrib and theopposite edge of which is provided with an upstanding coin edge engagingearn wall providing a multiplicity of laterally offset wall segments ofdiffering lengths and coin passages at its opposite ends respectivelyfor entry of coins into and discharge of coins from said coin chute; andcoin drive means mounted for movement relative to said chute andselectable varying length driving engagement with said means for windingsaid clock mechanism and setting said indicators, said coin drive meanscomprising a body member movable along said one edge of said back plate,a coin diameter gauging lever pivotally mounted on said body member formovement parallel to the plane of said chute back platev and having arst arm overlying va portion of said back plate and having angularlyrelated coin edge engaging ngers disposed adjacent said one back plateedge and an abutment portion, a pickup drive pawl pivotally mounted onsaid body member adjacent said second arm and having an abutment' armengaging said second arm and a pickup linger movable from a normallyinoperative position to an operative position to engage said lmeans forwinding said clock mechanisml and setting said indicators throughoutdifferv ing intervals of movement of said coin drive means relative tosaid chute, spring means biasing said abutment arm of said pickup drivepawl into abutting engagement withsaid abutment portion of said coindiameter gauging lever and said-pickup linger toward its operativeposition and spring means to bias said coin diameter gauging lever in adirection to urge a coin in said chute toward said coin edge engagingcam wall whereby coins of differing value and diameter Will be effectivedue to their respective engagement with the ditering length wallsegments to swing said pickup finger into operative position'atdiiierent points along the path of movement of said coin drive meansrelative to said chute to eiiect respectively different settings of saidmetermechanism.

l2. The combination of cla-im 11 wherein said means for winding saidclock mechanism and setting said indicators comprises a cam plate andrack ring assembly, said coin drive means comprises a rotatable diskcoaxiallydisposed with respect to said rack ring and said rack ringcomprises a series of eqniangularly related, inwardly directed toothformations arranged for selective engagement by said pickup linger.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein said coin drive means comprisesa coin thickness gauging lever pivotally mounted on said body member formovement at right-,angles to the plane of said chute back plate' andhaving a first arm provided with a feeler inger overlying and extendingtoward said back plate at a point between said plate edges and a secondarm swingable upon pivotal movement of said lever in a planetransversely of said chute back plate, a link pivotally connected at'one end to said second arm for relative movement toward and away fromsaid chute back plate and'having a slot in its' opposite end, a ratchetpawl journalled on said body member adjacent the slotted end of saidlink and having angular` related arms one of which is shaped at its freeend to form a ratchet linger, `a ratchet bar ixedly disposed withrespect to said coin chute with its ratchet teeth adjacent the path ofmovement of said body member portion mounting said pawl, spring meansinterconnecting the other pawl arm and said opposite link end to biassaid ratchet linger toward said ratchet bar and spring means attached atone end to said body member alongside or" said link and at its other endto said link adjacent its one end to normally bias said feeler lingertoward said chute back plate and said link toward said rack bar therebyswinging said ratchet ringer out of the path of said ratchet teeth solong as the free end of said feeler linger is not engaging a coindisposed in the pocket of said coin drive means and assuring ratchetingengagement of said ratchet inger and rack teeth to prevent retrogrademovement of said coin drive means Whenever a coin is in the pocket ofsaid coin drive means.

14. The combination oi claim 11 wherein said means for Winding saidclock mechanism and setting said indicators comprises a cam plate andrack assembly, said pickup linger engages said rack to impart settingmovement to said cam plate and rack assembly, said cam plate has a camsegment adapted when said cam plate and rack assembly is disposed intime drive position, to lie in interfering relation to a part or saidexpired time indicator mechanism and said coin drive means includes apin for engaging another part of said expired time indicator mechanismonly when said coin drive means is in its home position, said cam andsaid pin cooperating to assure display of said expired time indicatorwhenever said coin drive means is in a position other than its homeposition or said cam plate is in its expired time position thusobviating undetectable jamming of the meter.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said expired time indicatormechanism comprises a generally longitudinally elongated flag, a liagsupport post fixed at one end to one end of said ag and extending awaytherefrom at approximately right angles, compound link support meansjournallcd to the opposite end of said support post and composed ot acontrol lever member pivoted to a support plate, a normally overlyinglatch link interconnecting the other post end to the free end of saidlever member and spring means interconnecting a midportion of said levermember and said support plate and arranged to yieldingly retain saidcontrol lever and latch link in their normal overlying relationship, acrank arm support link journalled on said support plate and having amain arm generally parallelling s id compound link support means and anangularly related arm and spring means connected to said angularlyrelated arm and said support plate to bias said expired time indicatormechanism to its display position.

16. ln a parking meter having a coin chute, coin drive means adapted tomove a coin along said chute during a time setting operation, a meterhousing having an nspection window in the wall thereof adjacent thedischarge end of said chute, and a coin insertion channel communicatingwith the other end of said chute: a coin support and ejection mechanismfor detaining a coin opposite said inspection window until a succeedingcoin deposited in said coin drive means is moved along said chutecomprising a trip member movably supported on said chute and normally"biased to a position in the path of coins passing through said chute,said trip member coacting with a coin receiving pocket adapted toreceive and detain a first deposited coin adjacent said window inthenormal position of said member and having means thereon adapted, uponmovement of a succeeding deposited coin along said chute into engagementwith said trip member, to engage and positively discharge said firstdeposited coin from said coin receiving pocket and thereafter bereleased and returned to its normal biased position to receive anddetain the succeeding deposited coin adjacent said window.

17. In a parking meter having a Windable clock mechanism, a timeindicator, means for winding said clock mechanism and setting said timeindicator, a coin chute for guiding deposited coins therealong during ameter setting operation and: coin driving means mounted for movementrelative to said chute and adapted upon engagi ing a coin in said chuteduring a meter setting operation to actuate said means: comprising amovable body member; a fixed ratchet mounted adjacent the path ofmovement of said body member; a ratchet pawl pivotally mounted on saidbody member for movement between positions of engagement anddisengagement with said ratchet; pivoted lever means mounted on saidbody member including a portion engageable with a coin deposited in saidchute; means drivingly connecting said pivoted lever means to saidratchet pawl; means resiliently biasing said pivoted lever means to afirst position in which said ratchet pawl is held in its disengagedposition, said lever means upon engagement of a coin in said chute beingarrested in a second position eiiecting engagement of said ratchet pawland said ratchet to prevent reverse movement of said body member so longas said pivoted lever means is in engagement with a coin in said chute.

18. in combination with the parking meter claimed in claim 17, cam meansrigidly mounted adjacent the entrance end of said chute in position toengage a portion of said pivoted lever means and hold said pivoted levermeans out of its irst position during an initial portion of the movementof said body member whereby a deposited coin may be moved into engagedarresting relation to said pivoted lever means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

17. IN A PARKING METER HAVING A WINDABLE CLOCK MECHANISM, A TIMEINDICATOR, MEANS FOR WINDING SAID CLOCK MECHANISM AND SETTING SAID TIMEINDICATOR, A COIN CHUTE FOR GUIDING DEPOSITED COINS THEREALONG DURING AMETER SETTING OPERATION AND: COIN DRIVING MEANS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENTRELATIVE TO SAID CHUTE AND ADAPTED UPON ENGAGING A COIN IN SAID CHUTEDURING A METER SETTING OPERATION TO ACTUATE SAID MEANS: COMPRISING AMOVABLE BODY MEMBER; A FIXED RATCHET MOUNTED ADJACENT THE PATH OFMOVEMENT OF SAID BODY MEMBER; A RATCHET PAWL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAIDBODY MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN POSITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT ANDDISENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET; PIVOTED LEVER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAIDBODY MEMBER INCLUDING A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH A COIN DEPOSITED IN SAIDCHUTE; MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID PIVOTED LEVER MEANS TO SAIDRATCHET PAWL; MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASING